2018 Cheness SGC Review
May 29, 2018 21:00:03 GMT
Post by rjodorizzi on May 29, 2018 21:00:03 GMT
Who doesn't love a big thick slab of metal? I just received my Cheness SGC Katana today and thought I'd post a quick review.
The Cheness SGC (Specialized Goza Cutter) is a somewhat unique offering from Cheness. The basic schtick is that it's a mono-steel TH katana blade that is wider and thinner than a standard to make it more suitable for cutting ridiculous targets. The blade is 9260 so this, to me at least, is truly considered a beater katana.
Specs from Cheness:
Name Yamakami Katana (Mountain Guardian)
Blade Through Hardened 9260 Silicon Alloy Carbon Spring Steel.
Overall Length (+ Saya) 42"
Treatment Full Hand Forged, Through Hardened, Oil Quenched, Hand Polished
Finish Tameshigiri Polish
Blade Dimension 28" Length, 0.25" Width, 1.50" Height
Sori (Curvature) 0.7"
Weight 2 lbs 15 oz (no saya), 3 lbs 14 oz (with saya), 9 lb shipping weight.
Tsuba/Fuchi/Kashira Blackened Steel "Mount Fuji" Tsuba
Balance Point 6" above tsuba
Tsuka/Ho 11" Wood
Tsuka Ito Brown Cotton
Mekugi 2 X Wood (Double Pinned)
Same Real Ray Skin Panel Wrap
Saya 30.5" Black Glossy Lacquered Medium Hardwood
Full disclosure: I paid full price ($299 at time of review) ordered from the SBG store. I am not affiliated with Cheness in the slightest.
I received the sword today, it came in a standard cardboard box tightly wrapped around the display box. I actually have never bought, at least a usable, sword with a display box so it was kind of a fun inclusion. Some people hate them as they are either cheap or take money away from the sword. For this one I knew everything was going to be utilitarian so it was kind of fun to just get one with it. Take it or leave it, I wouldn't consider it a bonus, but it is kind of fun and will be a nice place to throw it on my desk.
When I opened the display box I was greeted with a standard sword bag similar to what my Ronins came in. I peeled that away and was fairly taken aback by how THICK the tsuka was on this. I knew going in that it was going to be beefy, but pictures don't exactly capture it and my brain was having a hard time adjusting to how I remembered a katana grip feeling! I have some pretty beefy mitts myself so I tried to give an idea of how this looked in hand, I'm still not sure that I've captured how thick it is. Again, I knew going in that it would be thick, but want to call it out!
After unsheathing the blade I found myself really liking the heft of it. It's not historical, I don't believe, but it's weird and fun and that's what I find myself liking more of these days. The blade has just a slight Hamon (fake TH remember!) that is relatively pleasant as these things go.
The whole thing just screams workhorse to me. The fittings are utilitarian but usable, and the ito, although cotton, is one of the tightest I've owned in the price range. The menuki, fuchi and kashira all seem to be the same iron as the tsuba. Again all plain but usable. The habaki fit is, for this price range, tight and it doesn't have any play. The only wiggle I seemed to get, and I can't consistently make it happen, is an odd vertical wiggle with the tsuba. I'm certain I can fix it in my tabletop smith shop and it isn't noticeable when handling the blade.
The blade itself has a decent finish, with a NOTICEABLE grind towards the kissaki, this starts back probably five inches from the tip or so. Doesn't super bother me, but it is noticeable immediately. I wasn't able to get a good picture of it, when I do some cutting outside and (hopefully get some good footage finally) I will post a video that should show it.
Final Thoughts: If you are looking for a, reasonably, priced beater with a unique look and feel I can solidly recommend this piece. Are there better options in the price range? Absolutely. If you're like me and just like something a little different than your average bear than the SGC might be for you!
Pros: Solid 9260 TH blade, Wide & thinner blade makes for a forgiving cutter, unique look and feel
Cons: Slight wiggle to tsuba, rough grind towards kissaki, non-traditional build may impact form when practicing tameshigiri (I wouldn't know, I just backyard cut for funsies!)
The Cheness SGC (Specialized Goza Cutter) is a somewhat unique offering from Cheness. The basic schtick is that it's a mono-steel TH katana blade that is wider and thinner than a standard to make it more suitable for cutting ridiculous targets. The blade is 9260 so this, to me at least, is truly considered a beater katana.
Specs from Cheness:
Name Yamakami Katana (Mountain Guardian)
Blade Through Hardened 9260 Silicon Alloy Carbon Spring Steel.
Overall Length (+ Saya) 42"
Treatment Full Hand Forged, Through Hardened, Oil Quenched, Hand Polished
Finish Tameshigiri Polish
Blade Dimension 28" Length, 0.25" Width, 1.50" Height
Sori (Curvature) 0.7"
Weight 2 lbs 15 oz (no saya), 3 lbs 14 oz (with saya), 9 lb shipping weight.
Tsuba/Fuchi/Kashira Blackened Steel "Mount Fuji" Tsuba
Balance Point 6" above tsuba
Tsuka/Ho 11" Wood
Tsuka Ito Brown Cotton
Mekugi 2 X Wood (Double Pinned)
Same Real Ray Skin Panel Wrap
Saya 30.5" Black Glossy Lacquered Medium Hardwood
Full disclosure: I paid full price ($299 at time of review) ordered from the SBG store. I am not affiliated with Cheness in the slightest.
I received the sword today, it came in a standard cardboard box tightly wrapped around the display box. I actually have never bought, at least a usable, sword with a display box so it was kind of a fun inclusion. Some people hate them as they are either cheap or take money away from the sword. For this one I knew everything was going to be utilitarian so it was kind of fun to just get one with it. Take it or leave it, I wouldn't consider it a bonus, but it is kind of fun and will be a nice place to throw it on my desk.
When I opened the display box I was greeted with a standard sword bag similar to what my Ronins came in. I peeled that away and was fairly taken aback by how THICK the tsuka was on this. I knew going in that it was going to be beefy, but pictures don't exactly capture it and my brain was having a hard time adjusting to how I remembered a katana grip feeling! I have some pretty beefy mitts myself so I tried to give an idea of how this looked in hand, I'm still not sure that I've captured how thick it is. Again, I knew going in that it would be thick, but want to call it out!
After unsheathing the blade I found myself really liking the heft of it. It's not historical, I don't believe, but it's weird and fun and that's what I find myself liking more of these days. The blade has just a slight Hamon (fake TH remember!) that is relatively pleasant as these things go.
The whole thing just screams workhorse to me. The fittings are utilitarian but usable, and the ito, although cotton, is one of the tightest I've owned in the price range. The menuki, fuchi and kashira all seem to be the same iron as the tsuba. Again all plain but usable. The habaki fit is, for this price range, tight and it doesn't have any play. The only wiggle I seemed to get, and I can't consistently make it happen, is an odd vertical wiggle with the tsuba. I'm certain I can fix it in my tabletop smith shop and it isn't noticeable when handling the blade.
The blade itself has a decent finish, with a NOTICEABLE grind towards the kissaki, this starts back probably five inches from the tip or so. Doesn't super bother me, but it is noticeable immediately. I wasn't able to get a good picture of it, when I do some cutting outside and (hopefully get some good footage finally) I will post a video that should show it.
Final Thoughts: If you are looking for a, reasonably, priced beater with a unique look and feel I can solidly recommend this piece. Are there better options in the price range? Absolutely. If you're like me and just like something a little different than your average bear than the SGC might be for you!
Pros: Solid 9260 TH blade, Wide & thinner blade makes for a forgiving cutter, unique look and feel
Cons: Slight wiggle to tsuba, rough grind towards kissaki, non-traditional build may impact form when practicing tameshigiri (I wouldn't know, I just backyard cut for funsies!)